How long have you been diagnosed?

I was diagnosed in January 2019 when I was 31. For years growing up, I felt I was different and grew up with speech impediment and found it hard to socialise and had anxiety issues and myself nor my parents knew what why I was like I was. I was diagnosed with Dyspraxia when I was 12 and I had some mild OCD issues that I knew about.

In 2018 I was watching TV and saw a man interviewing two teenagers who were Autistic. Might have been Matt Baker on Countryfile or on The One Show, I don't remember, but and as soon as I saw that, it was a lightbulb moment for me. Much of what they said and how they acted, paralleled myself. It was then I decided I wanted to get tested.

The first time I trued to get a test, I was just told that even if I could get a test, there was not much that could be done to help adults Autism. That wasn't very helpful. A few months after that, I decided that I wasn't going to let that stop me and I tried again to get tested. I talked with my doctor, who said he noticed some Autistic traits in me and he referred me for an appointment for a diagnosis. I got tested and found out I had Autism.

It was after that, things made sense to me. I was given help for over a year until the Pandemic started by a woman who helps people with Autism understand their condition and it has really helped. I felt more confident than I used to and I felt I understood the way I was and it helped my family understand me more too, 

About 2 years after my diagnosis, I started to think I also have ADHD. Some of the traits I have seem to conflict with my Autistic traits such as sometimes having the ability to hyperfocus then other times not being able to focus at all and losing concentration and getting distracted easily. Also not being able to sleep at normal hours of the night and sometimes feeling I too much energy when I know I don't and that is just some of them. I have been trying to get a test for it for the past 2 years and I am still on a waiting list which is frustrating and the last I was told that it could take another 4 years before I can get a test!

Welcome Craig. I missed your introductory post. I'm was very similar to you at this stage. I'm a lot better even after just a few months.

7 days ago and I have mixed emotions about everything, I'm 51 years old and being gutted, relief, sadness, depressed, anxious all at once.

quite a journey and I am still, trying to understand it and everything, so many things I want to say but can't put my thoughts together because I'm confused and sad and everything else.

I made it this far and I'm proud of myself for doing so but getting to know and understand the true me is going to take some time I think.

thats ok 

Personality is a funny thing.  At this point the real you will probably be a mix of your true self and the NT traits you have been forced to adopt and adapt to throughout your life.

I used to be a  heavy drinker but I managed to quit about ten years ago.

Welcome to the forum.

Thankyou for contributing to my thread Zo.

yeah dude i fell that too sometimes

I was like that at interviews i'd be over qualified for the job, i should of easily of got them but i used to physically shake , i was a wreck,  I tried all sorts to cope with it, even having a few drinks before i went into the interview, i still messed up in them. :-(

I have been diagnosed for 15 months now after of lifetime of angst about the feeling I am was not right. Now I got an explanation as to why I felt like I did and why I could never get promotions at the interview stage. I can know something inside out but if asked a question I go blank.

I am still learning about myself whilst dealing with the occasional imposter syndrome. I think I will be learning for a long time yet. The masking I have done over the years is now like an onion slowly peeling back layers with tears in my eyes trying desperately to get to know the 'real me'. 

Welcome!

People feel differently about a diagnosis.

I'm about your age. It was good for me, as it has helped with my partner and I am starting to learn a bit more about myself.

I can see that it is OK to be self-diagnosed too.

Others probably want to close pandora's box.

No there is no 'cure'. It would be like curing you of being you. A formal diagnosis, or self diagnosis may help you come to terms with yourself.

Ive not been diagnosed yet, i'm 55 and only just realized i had the traits about 12 months ago, I've struggled all my life socializing, maintaining eye contact, struggled in job interviews,  I've struggled all my life,  I have put it down depression, alcoholism all sorts,  I stopped drinking for 5 years once but i still all the traits and problems i had before i stopped.  I have used alcohol alot to mix with people and feel so called normal.  I'm still not sure if i should bother the doctor asking for a diagnosis there is no cure for it is there?  

for me I was diagnosed at age 5 or 6 acordimg to my Mum and Dad. so I was little when I was diagnosed. she said she found it  diffucult getting a diagnosis cause  I didnt look or act autisitic when I was doing some of the activatys I was doing when I was little in the assesment when playing etc

but told me that she noticed when I was little that something was off and that I was more sensitive than normal to noises around me and would get upset by it. and there were also other things that were off aswell that got me the diagnosis but emphasised it was very diffucult cause I apeared to act like everyone else

I was diagnosed with comorbid conditions over the years aswell and around the time period as my autism diagnosis.  I was diagnosed with a rare comdition cause tuberous sclerosis aswell as epelepsy which is is now comtroled and a sleep disporder 

I got a diagnosis of developmental learning disabiloty when I was arpund the 7 and 8 age range. my co morbid comditions do add complexity to my Autism and learning disability diagnosis I havr learned as I got older 

the rare genetic disorder called tuberous sclerosis means I have  tubers blocking certain areas of my brain. alot of people with ts also end up diagnosed with co morbid conditions commonly Autism or Learning disabilitys, epelepsy and others. but not all people with the condition  nesacerily. 

a Ts exspert aswell as my Mum ( thinks) my Tuberous sclerosis (might) be responsible for me being born with Autism and Learning disability cause theres a high probability of haveing other conditioms like Autism even though not all people with ts have them in the brain. it blocks parts of my brain responsible for various things including learning. 

 Mum told him shes noticed changes and improvments in my autistic symptoms compared to previous years. but I havnt noticed anything. I take advantage of strengths and weaknesses I know that my autism gives me when I can though and have learmed how to as I got older though. 

for them they think cause my medicame shrinks them in my brain it (might) be responsible for why my autisitc behavior have (apeared ) to of inproved compared to when I was younger and they cant think of amy other reasom why. 

. they havmt given me anything for or against to support there theory and the  comdition ismt well known so to me so its just there opinion as far I know. 

what I do know for certaim however is I know theres no cure for autism so it is unlikely a cause (but) instead (a factor) for being born with it 

and this is where I answer your second question 

I have  more interests and  I have more knoledge amd  exsperiamce cause of my special interests and have been growing and learning about my autism as I got  older,

I have learned alot about Autism and learning disabilitys from beimg at acomodations like special schools and college ones that support me and others  with the comditioms cause people in my class and the playground was autistic.

and from doing research on the conditioms and learning about myself. we were also told we have it amf told about it at school (aswell) when I was a teemager. I dont know if the others in my class knew they had it but they were the only ones that were surprised when the teacher told them. for me I already knew so wasnt surprised. 

. when I was a teenager  I made a tshirt that says I have autism and also one that says my autism makes me brave amd determined and other things and wanted to learn more about it so I came to acept amf embrace it over the years 

I found some strategys that I had established to deal with some of my symptoms  over the years and is therfore less obvious to those around me  and more internalised but I dont usualy surpress it. im not afraid of being my autistic self regardless and I dont hide it from others either.  some things neurotypical people dont understand I keep to myself while other things I tell them about. but otherwise Iv allways never felt the need to hide it and even teach some people about it and let them know if theres something they need to know cause of my autism if im comfortable with it. 

for me being autistic has allways been part of my identity. the way I fpund out I was autistic is cause Mum wrote it down for me when I was a child around the 9, 10 age range for me to read and exsplained everything to me so I had a long time to come to terms with my comdition after that 

Good to read.

I found looking menacing useful when I used to walk through tough areas at night.

I am too physically slight to actually be menacing but I can certainly use *the look* when I need to.

Agree also my issue is I have let my weight creep up need to work on that and can look scruffy.

When I put a suit on topple can not believe how smart I look.

I have been told you are scruffy ho would employ you no wonder you are single who would have you you have no friends my voice has been mocked.

Oh and these comments are from someone that has accused ,me of harassment lovely world eh

I've been told similar in the past re looking menacing. Also that being 'big' adds to that. The reality? I was above averagely tall as a teen/young adult but I'm now of average height. I  think that those who are neurotypical can be just as inept at reading our facial expressions etc, as we can be with theirs.  It's not something the average neurotypical,including (mental) health professionals , is going to readily admit to though.

you are so true they are unking i get comments like can't you tone it down it does not matter etc.I have even been told my facial expression which is typical autism is menacing !

Diagnosed 7 years. Understand me more the older I get.

Good to hear. I'm lucky enough not to have anyone else around me, so I can be as Autistic as I like.